29 March 03
Hi All,
Greg Sihler from The Arizona Dendrobate Ranch. I guess I should do an
introduction, since I stopped lurking yesterday ( thanks for all the positive
responses, they have really been a big help!!).
My Wife Amanda and I started with Darts and Mantellas back in 1996, shortly
after getting married, when I figured she would be less likely to freak out
and leave. I had to make one promise, which I have kept to this day, "no
snakes" - no biggie, don't like them really, they eat frogs.
We had our little fling with the reptile world - day geckos, tokays, etc.. .
. but I have always been a fish and plant person, not big into reptiles. I
think most froggers come from a reptile back ground or a fish/plant
background. Surprisingly enough, or not, it is those with the fish/plant
backgrounds that do the best - never think of your Darts as reptiles!
Sorry, got off track. Okay, first, I know our site is in need of a major
over-haul. Hoping to get it done before West Coast Frog Day (Y'all come back
again, yah hear!!!).
Second, "What happened to us!"
Well, twin girls and a major career change for me. We now have 3 beautiful
tadpoles of our own - Nina, 5.5, Maria & Rachel, 3.5. The twins were born
about 3 months after I left Chase Manhatten Cardmember Services to begin a
new career as an independent Computer Network Consultant. It was a little
bit before that when I "dumped" our collection on my Wife. That is about the
only way I can describe it - I was burned out.
Well, it was wrong of me, and Amanda and the frogs suffered. Let me give you
a bit of advice. If you ever feel like you are getting burned out (it
happens, believe me) - sell your frogs!!!! Let others who truly want to care
for them take over, you can always buy back in. If you don't, then you will
experience what we did - major die offs. It was actually a number of
separate events, but ultimately it was my fault, for not wanting to let go of
the animals that I no longer wanted to care for. I learned a lot and the
actual story is much longer, so if anyone cares to hear it you will have to
ply me with beer at Frog Day or IAD.
At the beginning of last year, we were down to one 60 gallon tank with 8 d.
leucomelas adults. Some of which were our first frogs. Now pay attention
newbie's - Dendrobates Leucomelas is the absolutely best beginner frog!!
Tough as nails, very out going (you will see them), and one of the most
beautiful calls that you can actually hear. If you start with leucs, you
will be greatly rewarded. If you manage to kill the leucs, you should
seriously reconsider keeping darts.
I got the bug again, I got a real job again, and I got a different and better
attitude this time. No more gorilla racks of 10 gallons, trying to push
breeding production on darts that I didn't even really like anymore. This
time I have only gotten the darts I really enjoy and have setup all show
tanks that I can sit in front of and enjoy.
When we have off-spring available this time we plan to sell locally and
possibly at show, we are going to try an avoid shipping - the stress on the
animals and me is too great.
Here is what we are working with;
d. leucomelas
d. tinctorious (only Dwarf FG, and Oyapoks - smaller and easier to feed)
d. azureus (how can you not have them, plus they are Nina's fav.)
d. pumilio (reds, and bastimentos, we have our first 4 successful juvis from
this group)
d. histrionicus
d. fantasticus
d. ventrimaculatus
p. bicolor
p. terriblis (orange)
p. vitattus
m. expectata
m. cowanii
m. mylopotium(?)
We are expecting some d. reticulatus next week and then the only species left
on my want list is d. granuliferus
I think this will be a much more manageable collection this time.
Finally, but not necessarily last, let me thank all those Froggers who have
been so great to us since the beginning - You know who you are!!!! That has
to be one of the biggest things that I missed in the years that I was
inactive, the frog People. Yes, there are a few real boneheads out there -
we all know who they are, and I am impressed to see that most of the ones
from 3 or 4 years ago are no longer around, but for the most part there are
many more great people out there keeping darts. I am happy to call many of
them my Friends.
Have a great weekend,
Greg Sihler
Arizona Dendrobate Ranch
http://www.azdr.com
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